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Biology
Syllabus for 2009-2010
Instructor:
Class location:
Class times:
Availability:
Phone:
E-mail:
Dr. Yvonne Boldt
N307
P1, P2, P4, P5, P6 M-F
P3, P7, P8 M-F drop in or by appointment;
before or after school by appointment
763 258-5506
Yvonne.Boldt@providenceacademy.org
Biology Course Goals
 Gain new knowledge about the structure and function of living
things (organisms)
 Cell structure and function
 Genetics and inheritance of traits
 Structure and function of different types of organisms
including bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals
 Gain insight into several key areas where biology impacts the
quality and morality of human life
 Structure, function and use of embryonic and adult stem
cells
 Genetic engineering/biotechnology
 Human understanding of the origin of living things,
including a thorough analysis of the Theory of Evolution
and Intelligent Design Theory
 Gain new study skills and practice old ones in order to increase
preparedness for college
 Reading, researching and finding information
 Organizing information (study guides, outlines, current
biology presentation)
 Explaining information accurately to others through short
answers, essays, papers, and presentations
Course Overview:
This 10th grade class involves the study of life and of living things. The student will learn about
the chemistry of life, cell structure and function, photosynthesis and cellular respiration,
chromosomes and cell reproduction, the six kingdoms of living organisms, and the origins of
living things. In the regular level of this course, students will be taught study skills and essay
writing techniques to increase success in science.
Additional Course Information:
Required 10th grade course; no prerequisites
Text, Readings, Materials:
 Biology: Principles and Explorations, by George B. Johnson and Peter H. Raven,
Copyright 2001, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, $70.50
 Materials:
 Students must purchase one1-inch three-ring binder, one 1½-inch three-ring
binder, and loose leaf paper
 All lab materials are provided except materials for a DNA model building project
Course Policies:
Grading Policy
For each unit:



homework, labs, in class work, and maintenance of your 3-ring binder will make up 60% of your
grade
quizzes and tests will make up 40% of your grade
participation, attitude and effort will no doubt directly influence your performance on all the
assessments listed above.
o
o
o
Positive participation including paying attention in class, asking appropriate questions, following
along in the book and doing the assigned reading and homework will enable you to achieve your
highest potential in this class.
Failure to positively participate will detract from your efforts to achieve your highest potential in
this class resulting in lower grades on homework, quizzes, tests, etc.
Negative or disruptive participation in class that inhibits your learning and/or the learning of
classmates may result in the loss of percentage points from your quarter grade. For example, even
if you earn an A based on test scores, etc. if your behavior in class is such that it disrupts the
learning of your classmates, you may end up with an A- for your quarter grade.
Units vary somewhat in size. Tests and quizzes vary in point value between 10-100 points. Homework
points vary from 10-50 points. Generally speaking, larger assignments/quizzes/tests are worth more
points and smaller assignments/quizzes/tests are worth fewer points. ALL your work is important and
contributes significantly to your final grade.
The grading curve for this class will be as follows:
93-100%
A
90-92%
A87-89%
B+
83-86%
B
80-82%
B77-79%
C+
73-76%
C
70-72%
C67-69%
D+
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
< 60%
D+
D
DF
Semester Grade: The semester exam is worth 20% of the semester grade, with the remaining 80% of the
semester grade being determined by the first and second quarter grades (third and fourth quarter grades in
semester two). Each quarter grade is worth 40% of the semester grade.
Semester Exam: Minimally you should save all study guides and vocabulary sheets for the final exam.
However, I recommend that you also save all you class notes, homework assignments, etc. to use in
preparing for the semester exam. The first semester exam covers all material covered in quarters 1 and 2.
The second semester exam covers all material covered in quarters 3 and 4.
Homework Policy
All homework should have your full name, teacher’s name, date and assignment given in the upper righthand corner.
3-ring binder(s): All students will be expected to keep a 3-ring binder with biology materials only
present in order by date received/utilized. These binders will be collected at the end of each unit and 20
homework points will be awarded based on the presence and quality of completion of materials from the
unit. (Note: You must purchase two 3-ring binders for biology class so that you have an empty binder for
the new unit while the 3-ring binder containing the previous unit is in my possession for grading
purposes.)
Success in this class depends significantly on your individual effort to keep up with studying the
material and completing the assignments given whether or not a particular assignment is graded
by the teacher. For this reason late homework is strongly discouraged. However, recognizing
that the life of a typical Providence Academy student is both demanding and complex:
Each student is allowed ONE late homework assignment at full credit per SEMESTER.



Late assignments may be ONE DAY LATE unless otherwise approved by the course instructor.
Any additional late assignments will automatically be awarded a ZERO. The teacher will assess
and give feedback on such late assignments for the student’s benefit of learning if turned in.
Absences will be taken into consideration appropriately when determining if homework is late.
o If you were here the day the homework was assigned, but are absent the day it is due, you
must turn your homework in the day you return and it will be considered on time.
o If you are absent one day, get the missed homework assignment and its due date from the
teacher the day you return. If you are absent 2 or more days, you should make an effort to
contact your Biology teacher to get missed homework and make arrangements to have
these materials brought home to you.
Test and Quiz make up policies
If you are absent on the day of a test or quiz, but were not absent days immediately prior to the test or
quiz, you will be expected to make up the test or quiz on your first day back to class.
If you are absent immediately prior to a test or quiz, you must make arrangements with me as to when
you will make up the missed test or quiz. Typically, if you are absent one day before a test or quiz you
have one day to make up the test or quiz, if you are absent for two days before a test or quiz you have two
days to make up the test or quiz, etc.
Attendance, lateness
See student handbook.
Lab safety/health
Students are expected to follow all instructions given for each lab. The Rule of “Ds” is also in
effect, any behavior that is disruptive, dangerous, or disrespectful is not allowed. Failure to
follow instructions or a violation of the Rule of “Ds” may result in a loss of lab participation
privileges and/or a zero for any affected lab write-ups.
Scholastic dishonesty
See student handbook.
Book Policy
Your Biology text book is worth $70.50. You are responsible for taking good care of your
textbook. You (your parents) will be charged for damage to books that is considered to be
beyond the normal wear and tear on a book by someone who is trying to take good care of the
book. Such damage usually results in charges between $10 and $30, but if the entire binding has
separated from the back of the book, you will be charged the full price of the book.
Most common types of damage for which I have found it necessary to charge students in the past
include damage to the bindings of books and damage to the edges of covers of books. This kind
of damage occurs when books
 are dropped
 are stored improperly in lockers
 are carelessly shoved in and out of lockers and or backpacks
 are used as “folders” with all manner of notes and handouts and homework stuffed in
between the pages
To store your books properly, keep them on one of the upper shelves in your locker, standing
upright or laying flat, but not at an angle. Do not keep papers in your Biology book as if it were
a folder.
Course Calendar/Schedule for Semester 1:
Week 1: Aug. 31-Sept. 4
 Monday: Frogs & Pollution in News; The Scientific Process cont., Section 1-3
 Tuesday: The Scientific Process cont., Section 1-3
 Wednesday: The Scientific Process cont., Section 1-3
 Thursday: Lecture: Experiments Prove DNA is the genetic material, Section 9-1
 Friday: Scientific Method Analysis: Griffith’s Experiment
Week 2: September 7-11
 Monday: NO SCHOOL  LABOR DAY
 Tuesday. Lab Safety: Introduce First Lab: Do Living Things Give Off a Common Substance?
 Wednesday: Lab: Do Living Things Give Off a Common Substance?
 Thursday: Lab: Do Living Things Give Off a Common Substance?
 Friday: Correct Lab: Do Living Things Give Off a Common Substance?
Week 3: September 14-18 Homecoming Week
 Monday: Test 1b on Experimental Analysis in Biology
 Tuesday: Lecture: What is Biology? Section 1-1
 Wednesday: Lecture: Characteristics of Living Things
 Thursday: Chemistry of Cells: Carbohydrates
 Friday: Chemistry of Cells: Lipids
Week 4: September 21-25
 Monday: Chemistry of Cells: Nucleic Acids;
Introduction of Current Biology Presentations
 Tuesday: Chemistry of Cells: Current Biology Proteins & Enzymes
 Wednesday: Chemistry of Cells: Proteins & Enzymes
 Thursday: Lab: Activity of the Enzyme Catalase
 Friday: Lab: Activity of the Enzyme Catalase
Week 5: September 28-October 2
 Monday: Correct Catalase Lab
 Tuesday: Test 2a: Structure and Function of Biomolecules; MidQ1
 Wednesday: Replication and Transcription, Sections 9-3, 10-1;
Current Biology Article Due (Article Selection Only)
 Thursday: The Genetic Code & Translation, Section 10-1
 Friday: The Genetic Code & Translation, Section 10-1
Week 6: October 5-9
 Monday: Gene Regulation & Gene mutations, Section 10-2
 Tuesday: Gene Regulation & Gene mutations, Section 10-2
 Wednesday: Analysis of Replication, Transcription, and Translation
 Thursday: Holding Place for Sophomore Retreat
 Friday: Current Biology Essay Due (Typed Draft)
Week 7: October 12-16
 Monday: Current Biology Essay Due (Final Draft)
Lecture: Microscopes: Looking at Cells, Section 3-1;
 Tuesday: Lab: Using the Light Microscope
 Wednesday: 10th graders take PSAT
 Thursday: NO SCHOOL MEA
 Friday: NO SCHOOL MEA
Week 8: October 19-23
 Monday: Cell Structure & Function: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic, Section 3-2
 Tuesday: Cell Structure and Function, Section 3-2 & 3-3
 Wednesday: Cell Specialization & Diagramming Cell Types
 Thursday: Cell Specialization
 Friday: Current Biology PowerPoints Due
Week 9: October 26-30
 Monday: Stem Cell Video
 Tuesday: Review For Test
 Wednesday: Test 3a: Cell Structure and Function
 Thursday: Passive Transport, Section 4-1
 Friday: Current Biology Round 1; End Q1
Week 10: November 2-6
 Monday: Passive Transport, Section 4-1
 Tuesday: Active Transport, Section 4-2
 Wednesday: Lab: Osmosis in Onions, Potatoes, and Grapes;
Typed Draft of Active Transport Outline Due
 Thursday: Lab: Osmosis in Onions, Potatoes, and Grapes
 Friday: Osmosis Lab Due; Correct in Class
Week 11: November 9-13
 Monday: Active Transport Outline Due; Energy and Living Things, 5-1, 16-2
 Tuesday: Photosynthesis, Section 5-2
 Wednesday: Lab: Computer Simulation of the Photosynthesis Light Reactions
 Thursday: Photosynthesis Lab Due; Correct Photosynthesis Lab
 Friday: Current Biology Round 2
Week 12: November 16-20
 Monday: Cell Respiration, Section 5-3
 Tuesday: Cell Respiration, Section 5-3
 Wednesday: Cell Respiration, Section 5-3
 Thursday: Wrap up Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
 Friday: Current Biology Round 3
Week 13: November 23-27
 Monday: Chromosomes, Section 6-1
 Tuesday: The Cell Cycle, Section 6-2&3
 Wednesday: THANKSGIVIG NO SCHOOL
 Thursday: THANKSGIVIG NO SCHOOL
 Friday: THANKSGIVIG NO SCHOOL
Week 14: Nov. 30-Dec. 4
 Monday: Lab Mitosis
 Tuesday: Review
 Wednesday: Test 4b: The Cell Cycle
 Thursday: Meiosis, Section 7-1; MidQ2
 Friday: Current Biology Round 4
Week 15: December 7-11
 Monday: Modeling Cross Over and Independent Assortment in Meiosis
 Tuesday: Introduction to Genetics, Mendel’s Experiments, Section 8-1 & 8-2
 Wednesday: Mendel’s Monohybrid Cross and Punnett Squares, Section 8-1 & 8-3
 Thursday: Mendel’s Dihybrid Cross, Section 8-3
 Friday: Introduce Lab: Mendel’s Genetics in Fruit Flies
Week 16: December 14-18
 Monday : Mendel’s Genetics in Fruit Flies: Determine Cross and Sex of Fruit Flies
 Tuesday: Sex-Linked Traits and Family Pedigrees, Section 8-3
 Wednesday: Sex-Linked Traits and Family Pedigrees, Section 8-3
 Thursday: Current Biology Round 5
 Friday: Mendel’s Genetics in Fruit Flies: Count F1 Generation
Week “0”: December 21-25 Christmas Break
Week “0”: December 28-January 1 Christmas Break
Week 17: January 4-8
 Monday: Lab: Mendel’s Genetics in Fruit Flies: Count F2 Generation
 Tuesday: Lab: Mendel’s Genetics in Fruit Flies: Go Over Results
 Wednesday: Complex Patterns of Heredity, Section 8-4
 Thursday: Complex Patterns of Heredity, Section 8-4
 Friday: Human Genetic Disorders
Week 18: January 11-1
 Monday: Semester Exam Information Reviewed
 Tuesday: Semester Exam Information Reviewed
 Wednesday: Semester 1 Final Exams; Biology: Part 1: Unit 5 Test, Part 2: Sem Exam Units 1-4
 Thursday: Semester 1 Final Exams
 Friday: Semester 1 Final Exams; End Q2 & Sem1
Course Calendar/Schedule for Semester 2:
Week 1: January 18-22
 Monday: NO SCHOOL: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
 Tuesday: Genetic Engineering: Gene Cloning
 Wednesday: Genetic Engineering: Gene Cloning
 Thursday: Human Cloning (Therapeutic and Reproductive); Video by Father Tad Pacholczyk
 Friday: Human Cloning continued
Week 2: January 26-30
 Monday: Introduction to Classifying Organisms/Kingdoms of Life
 Tuesday: Activity: Classification of Living Things
 Wednesday: Activity: Classification of Living Things
 Thursday: Types of Sexual and Asexual Reproduction
 Friday: Quiz: 6a
Week 3: February 1--5 Catholic Schools Week
 Monday: Lecture: Viruses
 Tuesday: Lecture: Viruses
 Wednesday: Viral Diseases
 Thursday: HIV
 Friday: Two Kingdoms of bacteria: Eubacteria and Archeabacteria
Week 4: February 8-12
 Monday: Two Kingdoms of bacteria: Eubacteria and Archeabacteria
 Tuesday: “Bad” Bacteria & “Good” Bacteria
 Wednesday: Lab: Observation of Bacteria
 Thursday: Lab: Observation of Bacteria
 Friday: Review for Test
Week 5: February 15-19
 Monday: Presidents Day: No School
 Tuesday: Test 6b: Viruses and Bacteria
 Wednesday: Kingdom Protista: Characteristics and Kinds of Protists
 Thursday: Diversity of Protist Kingdom cont.; MidQ3
 Friday: Malaria: A Disease Caused by a Protist
Week 6: February 22-26
 Monday: Characteristics of Fungi
 Tuesday: US Field Day: Holding Place
 Wednesday: Characteristics of Fungi continued
 Thursday: Lecture: Fungal Partnership
 Friday: Lab Observation of Fungi
Week 7: March 1-5
 Monday: Lab: Observation of Fungi
 Tuesday: Review for Test
 Wednesday: Test 7: Fungi and Protists Introduction to Plants, Four Main Groups of
Plants (Subkingdoms)
 Thursday: Introduction to Plants: Four Subkingdoms
 Friday: Introduction to Plants: Four Subkingdoms
Week 8: March 8-12
 Monday: Plants in Our Lives
 Tuesday: Sexual Reproduction in Plants
 Wednesday: Vascular Plant Structure: Tissues (Dermal, Ground & Vascular)
 Thursday: Vascular Plant Structure: Roots, Stems & Leaves
 Friday: Vascular Plant Structure: Roots Stems and Leaves
Week 9: March 15-19
 Monday: Transport of Water and Organic Compounds
 Tuesday: Flower Lab Background Prep: Monocots vs Dicots
 Wednesday: Flower Lab
 Thursday: In Class Analysis of Plant Structure & Function
 Friday: In Class Analysis of Plant Structure & Function: End Q3
Week “0”: March 22-26: Spring Break
Week “0”: March 29-April 2: Spring Break
Week “0”: April 5-8 No School
 Friday April 9th: Lecture: Introduction to Animals
Week 10: April 12-16
 Monday: Lecture: Animal Body Systems
 Tuesday: Invertebrate Animals: Sponges
 Wednesday: Invertebrate Animals: Cnidarians (Lecture + Video)
 Thursday: Invertebrate Animals: Planarians
 Friday: Invertebrate Animals: Earthworms
Week 11: April 19-23
 Monday: Invertebrate Animals: Mollusks
 Tuesday : Invertebrate Animals: Arthropods
 Wednesday: Crayfish (diagram)
 Thursday: Crayfish dissection
 Friday: Review
Week 12: April 26-30
 Monday: Test 9a: Invertebrate Animals
 Tuesday: Insect Video
 Wednesday: Holding place: Sophomore offsite retreat
 Thursday: Vertebrate Animals: Bony Fish and Cartilaginous Fish
 Friday: Vertebrate Animal: Amphibians
Week 13: May 3-7
 Monday: Frog Dissection Day 1
 Tuesday: Frog Dissection Day 2; MidQ4
 Wednesday: Frog Dissection Day 3
 Thursday: Vertebrate Animals: Reptiles
 Friday: Vertebrate Animals: Birds & Mammals
Week 14: May 10-14
 Monday: Review: Heart & Lung Comparisons
 Tuesday: Test 9b: Animals
 Wednesday: Introduction to Origin of Life Studies
 Thursday: Chemical Evolution: Oparin-Hypothesis & Miller-Urey Experiment
 Friday: Chemical Evolution: Evaluation of Evidence for Oparin-Hypothesis & Miller-Urey Experiment
Week 15: May 17-21
 Monday: Chemical Evolution: Evaluation of Evidence for Oparin-Hypothesis & Miller-Urey Experiment
 Tuesday: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Microevolution & Macroevolution
 Wednesday: The Tree of Life Representing Darwin’s Hypothesis
 Thursday: The Tree of Life Representing Darwin’s Hypothesis
 Friday: Intelligent Design Theory Part I: Irreducible Complexity
Week 16: May 24-28
 Monday: Intelligent Design Theory Part II: Complex Specified Information
 Tuesday: Intelligent Design Theory: Counter Arguments & Replies
 Wednesday: Evaluating Evidence for Theory of Evolution: Homology
 Thursday: Evaluating Evidence for Theory of Evolution: Homology
 Friday: : Evaluating Evidence for Theory of Evolution: Fossil Record
Week 17: May 31-June 4
 Monday: Memorial Day: No School
 Tuesday: Evaluating Evidence for Theory of Evolution: Molecular Comparisons, &
Embryology/Development
 Wednesday: Examples of Evolution
 Thursday: Review
 Friday: Semester 2 Final Exams: Biology & History
Week 18: June 7-9
 Monday: Semester 2 Final Exams: World Languages & Religion
 Tuesday: Semester 2 Final Exams: Math & English
 Wednesday: Last Day of school (1/2 day)
This syllabus may be subject to revision as the course progresses.
ALL QUIZ AND TEST DATES ARE TENTATIVE.
I have read the Biology Course Syllabus for the 2009-2010 school year in
its entirety and agree to abide by the policies stated there in.
_____________________________________________________________
Student signature
Utilizing Your Study Guide
It will not be necessary for most students to write or type out information for all
the study guide objectives. For each study guide objective, you should begin
by identifying where and how we covered the objective.
 In many, but not all, cases the material is covered in both your notes and
your book. In this case, mark clearly in your notes the entire section that
addressed the study guide objectives. Know this first and use your book as
a tool/ aid to enhance your understanding of the notes as necessary or
desired.
 In some cases a study guide objective will only be found in your notes.
 In some cases a study guide objective will only be found in your book.
 Some objectives are primarily addressed either through a handout,
homework assignment or lab.
In each case:
1. Write on your study guide the place or places you find relevant information.
Include page numbers of notes or book where applicable.
2. At the same time clearly mark in your notes, on a handout, homework
assignment, or lab, the complete section of information that applies to a
particular study guide question.
3. When the information for a study guide objective is only found in the book,
DO NOT write in the book. In this case you should extract the necessary
information and write or type the information up on separate sheet of paper.
4. If you can not find information for a particular study guide objective, ask you
teacher about it!!
Note: Your goal is not to identify a shortest “right” answer for each objective, but
to understand the objective to the depth that we covered it in the course.
I highly recommend that you check your study guide every couple of days and
ask yourself: “What objectives have we covered in the last couple days?” Mark
those objectives as described above and review your understanding of the
material. If you leave this whole process for one or two nights before the test, it
is unlikely you will be able to prepare yourself adequately for quizzes and exams.
Preparing for Final Exams
 Save all vocabulary sheets
 Save all study guide sheets and your organized information
 Utilize your study guides well throughout the semester. Then at finals time
you will not have to get organized, you will already be organized. This will
cut the time required for you to prepare for your Biology final exam by half
or more!!
Grading Policy for Writing in Biology
When ever you write answers in sentences this can be referred to as an essay. You must use
correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling in all essays. You must write in full sentences and
avoid informal abbreviations. For longer essays (generally 6+ sentences you should determine if
two (or more) paragraphs are needed. The most clear essay answers will often contain a topic
sentence, supporting information and a closing sentence.
Failing to follow these guidelines will result in the loss of points for essay answers as follows:
Length of
Essay
No Penalty
1-3 sentences
4-6 sentences
7-9 sentences
etc.
< 1 error
< 2 errors
< 3 errors
etc.
Deduction of
.2/1 pt
(20% penalty)
2-3 errors
3-4 errors
4-5 errors
etc.
Deduction of
.4/1pt
(40 % penalty)
4-5 errors
5-6 errors
6-7 errors
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.